PJ920--Unprofessional, accusational, and very bad to deal with

[soarer 300]

Hello all,

First off, my name is Cory McDonald. I joined your forum in search of a cheaper alternative to spending upwards of $400 on an Ipod.

I'd like to share my dealings with PJ920 with you (I will not post his real name for his security and privacy, but the extension of his paypal address which is XXXXXX@new.rr.com). I guess he's jumped the gun on me because I stated in one of my emails I was going to do this on Ipodlounge.com--he beat me to the punch (I think his post about me is a little retalitory)! :)

I'll let the events of the transaction tell the tale:

My first email:
This is Cory, I bought your IPOD a few weeks ago. I've been trying to get a hold of you on Ipodlounge but I got your email thru my paypal because I deleted all my other PM's.

Anyhow, the IPOD you sold me does not hold charge. I charge it
overnight and it doesn't even go to full battery. I even charged it for two days and no go. When the battery gets to its fullest point, the IPOD works for maybe 30 minutes. Otherwise, everything else was great. It was packaged well and in great condition.

I want a refund. This is subpar and not what I paid for. I will send
the Ipod back as soon as I recieve the money in my paypal account.

Regards,
Cory

His response:

YOU can return the ipod to ME. I will VERIFY it's no longer working. If I find this to be so,I will go to USPS and see what they will do. If they do not concure it was a shipping problem I will then contact Apple and try to get the ipod replaced or fixed. I did NOT and do NOT offer refunds! Between the Apple warranty and the postal insurace I (not you) purchased I went above and beyond covering you.
I put that ipod on the charger and it was fine. I tested the battery,loading music,deleting music and playing music before I shipped it.If there were any hint of a problem I would have canceled the deal. I got at least 6 hours,per charge, out of that battery. Are you sure you are using it correctly?
I have witnesses that it worked when shipped. When I drop it off at the PO it is NO LONGER MY RESPONSIBILITY. If you do not care for that policy read some ads on ebay,that is how many do it,that is how I always do it.

If you do not want to return the ipod to me to be fixed/replaced then you are welcome to pursue that on your own. If you need any info for Apple (serial number,etc) I have that. I have the postal slip for insurance. I will work with you towards getting it fixed or replaced but I can not,do not,will not refund your money.

Why should I suffer or get screwed over a problem on your end? I have no idea if you left the ipod in a cold environment,let somebody untrustworthy use it,dropped it..maybe you simply do not know how to care or work an ipod and you messed it up? Maybe you decided you want a mini instead and are just messing with me? That is why I can not offer a refund,in part, and why it is up to you to take precautions.

I am willing to call the PO tomorrow and talk to them.

So,let me know if you want to make the call or if I should. If it was broken during shipping I am sincerely sorry,these things happen. That is why I got it insured for YOU. But when I taped that box up that ipod worked in full.

My response:

Greetings,

First off, don't insult me by trying to say I sabotaged the IPOD because I want a different one. I'm not a big shot by any means but don't know who I am. Obviously, I run my "business" differently than you and your mysterious and unseen return policies. When I have a customer that wants his money back, I give it to him regardless. I'd rather save my face than a few bucks, but hey, to each his own. I don't want a mini. I want a 15gb 3g Ipod for under $180, and I got one. Not being able to use an IPOD...???? Are you kidding? A 3 yr-old could use an IPOD!

Now on subject: I can fully charge the IPOD and it will only work for
30-45 minutes tops. I am trying it for the third time now (fully
running out the battery) and am going to see how long I get out of it. When the screen says: "charged" I'll unplug it and hit play and the battery is at 3/4 charge. I don't know how I'm incorrectly using
it--incorrectly using an IPOD would almost be impossible. Once the
battery went dead, I fully charged it.

But, since you are accusing me of lying and trying to sabotage
merchandise I purchased so that I can reneg a deal I did because I have "changed my mind," I will eat the $175 or $180 I sent you because I don't want to do business with someone like you. I'll be sure to post both my first email and your response, as well as this email on Ipodlounge.com. I sure won't waste any more of your time.

Regards,
Cory McDonald

His response:

You accused ME of sending you a busted ipod. I never accused you of anything, I simply SUGGESTED possibilities.
I don't know you,who you deal with or any of that,I was simply pointing out reasons as to why a refund is not possible. I wasn't speaking of 'you' per se and I am sorry you took my generalizations to heart. My mistake.

I am not a 'buisiness'. This was a private person to person deal. You never asked about my policies regarding a refund. Thats on you pal.....is it not?


Now,I got you insurance. Why are you not pursuing a refund? Why just eat the cash when you don't have to? That is very fishy and makes me even more curious about this whole deal. If I were in your shoes I'd be at that PO first thing in the morning. If you
don't feel it's worth it thats up to you. The whole point of the insurance is so if the item does not arrive to you in working order you can get your money back. I did my part here. It's up to you. I have offered to do the leg work with the PO.

Don't threaten me bud,I delivered EXACTLY what I promised to you. You have a warranty and insurance coverage to recoup your money and it is your call to not follow through on that. I offered to work with both w/ USPS and Apple. I can't do much more then that.

The fact you want none of that,only a full refund is very odd.

As for the ipod,the battery meter only fills up to 70%. The 3G meters are crap,as is common knowledge on the lounge.

So,when you take it off the AC,the meter will NOT be full,it was like that the day I got it. The battery works,the meter does not but that is with most 3G's.

I have perfect ebay feedback and at least 12 transactions on the lounge and other ipod sites and I have NEVER had a problem with a product or a buyer til you. So,its goes both ways pal.

You were rude and demanding in your initial email and yet I still offered to help you out....you chose not to accept my help. Fine.

You did not REQUEST a refund,you DEMANDED it at YOUR terms with out discussing the situation with me first or to see if I could help resolve the issue in some other way. I did nothing wrong.


Argh...

Greetings again,

Now I'm fishy for just "eating the money?" This is getting laughable.

Sure, you suggested possibilities that I'm a liar and a thief. Thanks.

Secondly, the reason I don't pursue insurance because you and I both know that it is a joke. This is a VERY technical problem and I'm sure I wouldn't see a dime. I shipped an upper-end Alpine in-dash TV monitor to California and the screen was cracked. After battling with USPS for 6 months, they only gave my buyer a 3/4 refund! Obviously the monitor was working when I sold it and the box had substantial damage, but....I GAVE MY BUYER THE OTHER 25%!!! That's the way Internet trading goes!

With UPS, FedEx, and USPS, you must make a claim THE DAY you recieve the package. You sent the package on a Tuesday, it came in Friday, and I wasn't in town until the next week. Funny, because I sent the money on a Friday and it wasn't shipped until Tuesday--no biggie, though, but certainly not my fault for not being here.

Anytime I'm in a deal with someone, I certainly don't ask their return
policies because I do a lot of Internet trading. In fact, I've never
done it! I just assume that I will be accompanied with professionalism, not interrogation and suggestions that I broke the IPOD or "changed my mind" so I wanted a refund.

I did nothing but praise your service in my first email--the reason I
felt the IPOD wasn't par is because it was packaged so well! A bowling ball wouldn't have damaged it as well as it was packed.

Like I said, I'm done. Please don't email me anymore.

Regards,
Cory

Sending the IPOD back to Apple is a complete hassle. I'll pay to get it fixed locally.





Whew...now that's over....

I decided to not pursue a refund from PJ920 because for one:

-He won't refund my money. :)

and...

-It was suggested that I "broke" the IPOD and wanted to get cash back and try to "cover my tracks."


So frankly, I decided to be the bigger man and take the hit. Its just money, right?

Here's a few examples of my "fishyness:"

A transaction of my company (I am the owner/operator) (http://www.supraforums.com/forum/showthread.php?threadid=244053&highlight=soarer+300)

almost 200 transactions on Ebay--flawless (http://feedback.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewFeedback&userid=cory417&ssPageName=STRK:ME:UFS)


Anyhow, if anyone would like to chat about this, my email is cory@417performance.com (www.417performance.com is my company in Springfield, MO) or you can call me on my cell phone at 417-894-9627.


Regards, and happy "Ipodding" :)

-Cory McDonald (back in the market)

[PJ920]

I was more then happy to discuss this with you and work to get the ipod replaced but when the first words out of your mouth are "this ipod is junk" that kinda puts a sour taste in my mouth. The tone and words written in your first PM were rude and uncalled for and instantly put me in a defensive postion.

The fact remains you expect me to take you at your word but you will not do the same for me and anybody can clearly see that by reading our exchanges.

You say the ipod was broken when I mailed it and the world should stop and take that to be the ultimate truth. I say it was a month old ipod in perfect working order and I'm auotmatically a liar.
If that makes any sense to you,then you truely are a better man then I.

You made every excuse as to why we should not pursue a resolution with Apple/USPS. The ipod is under warranty,Apple HAS to fix it in a timely manner. If you do not want to go that route that is your call alone.

Everthing about this is odd. You can question my integrity and run my name through the mud while you sit on your throne free of any blame? If you must.

YOU never asked about a return policy.
YOU never asked about what would happen if the ipod failed to work w/i a given time.
YOU made ASSUMPTIONS based on how YOU may DO things. Great for you,I do things how I chose to do them and either the buyer can take or pass...you took. The other 30 or so folks I've sold to were 100% pleased with every aspect of our deals.

My selling and buying policies have never failed me on any forum or ebay til you. If I were doing something wrong I would think a problem would have appeared long before this.

I am sorry the ipod failed to work right in your posession. I wanted to explore our options as to getting you a new ipod and you weren't interested.



The ipod worked when I dropped it off at the PO so either it got damaged in shipping,which is why I got INSURANCE for you or....something happened in your possesion. NOT that I am BLAMING you or accusing you of something sinister,I am not.
I realize these things can happen.But,you had the ipod from 2-10 to 2-21 before you contacted me. I have no way of knowing what COULD have happened in that time.

I'm done. I tried to help you. I am sorry if you took anything I said to heart,my suggestions as to what could be going on were just that,suggestions and speculation. You can tell me how great and honorable you are all day and I can do the same....so what?


In closing,may I say the reason I called this 'fishy' is because:

-you never asked for help or info regarding the ipod. You never even tried to see if we could get the ipod working right.

-you never 'asked' for a refund or some resolution,you DEMANDED them at your terms w/o any consideration to me.

-you instantly brushed off the insurance and apple repair,you made every excuse as to why that wouldnt work.

-you accused me right off the bat of selling a junk ipod before I even had a chance to get all the facts. You come out all guns blazing before I even knew what was up!

-you would only accept a full refund and would not consider any other option.

-the fact you do not want the ipod fixed,you do not want it replaced,you do not want to see if we can get it working how it should,you are set on one thing-a full refund-sorry,but that is a little odd. It's how I feel,ok? I have that right.

[PJ920]

For what its worth I do not place all the blame on you,I simply did not take kindly to your approach. If your customer/seller service skills are so advanced then,well,they were not on display here.

If I were a crook I wouldnt have bought insurance,I wouldn't be here front and center answering your accusations,I wouldn't have even offered to help you get it fixed. I would have ignored you and saved myself a wasted evening defending myself when I did nothing wrong.

[SejalPatelMU]

I don't know either of you, but I have to side with PJ920 after reading both posts.

Clearly if the Apple warranty is in effect it would be just a matter of contacting Apple to get them to fix it. Also, from the message I gather that the item was a 3G Ipod. Which with the new release you may even get a newer model.

But you would not know until you called. PJ920 even asked if you wanted him to call both Apple and the PO on your behalf to get the problem resolved. Yet you did not even take his help in that. If you had done that and nothing was resolved then I could see your point. But I don't see that you have done anything to bring this confilct to a resolve besides asking for your money back.

[soarer 300]

Originally posted by PJ920
I was more then happy to discuss this with you and work to get the ipod replaced but when the first words out of your mouth are "this ipod is junk" that kinda puts a sour taste in my mouth. The tone and words written in your first PM were rude and uncalled for and instantly put me in a defensive postion.

That's been clear from the beginning, but if I may ask: Why be in the defensive if you did nothing wrong?

Originally posted by PJ920

The fact remains you expect me to take you at your word but you will not do the same for me and anybody can clearly see that by reading our exchanges.

You say the ipod was broken when I mailed it and the world should stop and take that to be the ultimate truth. I say it was a month old ipod in perfect working order and I'm auotmatically a liar.
If that makes any sense to you,then you truely are a better man then I.

Not the facts. I never said the IPOD was broken, I said it will not hold charge. I wanted my money back because {in fact it did work, but} it did not hold charge.

Through your investigation (filled with borderline libel, I may add) was made already clear that you weren't going to take my word for it.

Originally posted by PJ920

You made every excuse as to why we should not pursue a resolution with Apple/USPS. The ipod is under warranty,Apple HAS to fix it in a timely manner. If you do not want to go that route that is your call alone.

I may as well go fly a kite. And where are my warranty papers? I never recieved anything in regards to a warranty.


Originally posted by PJ920

Everthing about this is odd. You can question my integrity and run my name through the mud while you sit on your throne free of any blame? If you must.

I paid in full for the product on 3/4/05 hoping to have it before my trip to the east coast. Didn't recieve it until 3/15/05 because I was out of town still on 3/10/ when it arrived. I've had 9 days including today to use it.

Originally posted by PJ920

YOU never asked about a return policy.


You don't have one!

Originally posted by PJ920

YOU never asked about what would happen if the ipod failed to work w/i a given time.


Nothing happens. Except for the fact you point up the road to Apple so I can be "iPodless" for......(how many weeks does it take, guys?)

Originally posted by PJ920

YOU made ASSUMPTIONS based on how YOU may DO things. Great for you,I do things how I chose to do them and either the buyer can take or pass...you took. The other 30 or so folks I've sold to were 100% pleased with every aspect of our deals.

I made no "assumptions" on how I do things??? I told you how I run my business and that is, the customer is always right.

Originally posted by PJ920

My selling and buying policies have never failed me on any forum or ebay til you. If I were doing something wrong I would think a problem would have appeared long before this.

Where are your vouches? I've shown mine.

Originally posted by PJ920

I am sorry the ipod failed to work right in your posession. I wanted to explore our options as to getting you a new ipod and you weren't interested.

I can tell you're very sorry. So sorry that you insinuated the fact I sabotaged the iPod as an embellishment to make myself look better and to further my cause? Also, to keep pointing the finger at me to say that I "still seem fishy" and my case is invalid....so fishy that I said I'd just drop the idea of messing with this and get it fixed on my own.

I certainly don't want to do business with someone that cannot respect my wishes on a personal level. I never once thought you sold me a junk product on purpose--maybe I'm a foolish optimist though. But your futile attacks at my character are starting to show your true colors.

Besides the battery not holding charge and a *very* slight delay in shipping (I've been busy enough not to ship things for a few days), the libel/the insinuations, this was a good transaction. The iPod was shipped with care and with no other frills. And please believe I'm not being synical in this statement.


Originally posted by PJ920

The ipod worked when I dropped it off at the PO so either it got damaged in shipping,which is why I got INSURANCE for you or....something happened in your possesion. NOT that I am BLAMING you or accusing you of something sinister,I am not.

Umm...you did, about 10 times now.

Originally posted by PJ920

I realize these things can happen.But,you had the ipod from 2-10 to 2-21 before you contacted me. I have no way of knowing what COULD have happened in that time.

I paid you on the 4th. Actually it was:


Date: Feb. 4, 2005
Time: 09:33:50 PST
Status: Completed

YOU had (let's count them) 3 full business days to ship the iPod to me before you did. USPS is open to 5:00 pm on Friday, 8:00am to 12:00 noon on Saturday, Monday same as Friday...etc. I had the iPod for 5 days before I contacted you--I returned home late on the 15th. If need be, I can post my flight itenerary.

Originally posted by PJ920

I'm done. I tried to help you. I am sorry if you took anything I said to heart,my suggestions as to what could be going on were just that,suggestions and speculation. You can tell me how great and honorable you are all day and I can do the same....so what?

If you're so sorry, why does the following paragraph exist?


Originally posted by PJ920

In closing,may I say the reason I called this 'fishy' is because:

-you never asked for help or info regarding the ipod. You never even tried to see if we could get the ipod working right.

-you never 'asked' for a refund or some resolution,you DEMANDED them at your terms w/o any consideration to me.

-you instantly brushed off the insurance and apple repair,you made every excuse as to why that wouldnt work.

-you accused me right off the bat of selling a junk ipod before I even had a chance to get all the facts. You come out all guns blazing before I even knew what was up!

-you would only accept a full refund and would not consider any other option.

-the fact you do not want the ipod fixed,you do not want it replaced,you do not want to see if we can get it working how it should,you are set on one thing-a full refund-sorry,but that is a little odd. It's how I feel,ok? I have that right.

I really can't believe I've wasted 2 hours of my life on this. Oh well...

I know you're not a bad guy and am sure you weren't trying to rip me off, but I'm not going to do business with you any longer nor try to let you alleviate this situation. You've disrespected me as a whole and wrote a quicker-to-the-punch retalitory negative feedback in this forum after you found out I was going to, to save your face.

Best of luck in the future, and honestly I mean that. I'm sorry we got crossways.

Regards,
Cory McDonald

[Hinkston]

I have to say after reading all that I side with PJ920
as well. I have dealt with many worse internet sellers. Although you probably are on the up and up, many others are not, and he has to protect himself. He did offer to help and that is more than most would do.

PS I have two week old ipod mini that was fine for a day or two, and now barely holds an hours charge. I called Apple and they will take care of it. I suggest you do the same.

PSS you could both use a copy of How to Win Friends and Influence People...

[soarer 300]

Originally posted by PJ920
For what its worth I do not place all the blame on you,I simply did not take kindly to your approach. If your customer/seller service skills are so advanced then,well,they were not on display here.

I replied to your attempts to libel against me with simple, straightforward responses. I hope none of my words came off as a personal attack on your character which I don't believe they did. I simply made a request and you denied it.

Originally posted by PJ920

I am still willing to send you a copy of the USPS insurace slip and/or the Apple invoice.

The USPS insurance slip isn't worth crap, I'll be honest. You have my address on Paypal, so send me the Apple invoice. I'll even pay the postage for you so nothing is "fishy" about me trying to get more money out of you.

Originally posted by PJ920

If I were a crook I wouldnt have bought insurance,I wouldn't be here front and center answering your accusations,I wouldn't have even offered to help you get it fixed. I would have ignored you and saved myself a wasted evening defending myself when I did nothing wrong.

You're the only one that suggested that you were or weren't a crook.

And remember, you were the one that put yourself here....you made the initial post.

Regards,
Cory

[AVService]

I can't really even beleive this whole rant from soarer.

It sure sounds to me like PJ920 has offered every remedy short of a refund to try to resolve your problems with an ipod that is under Apple warranty and will be promptly fixed or replaced by them as others have assured you.

I sense no derogatory tone from PJ that was not first implied by your mails to him.

I will say that the insurance purchased by the seller is for him and not you.
Until the item is delivered to you it is still his and that is why carriers will usually deal only with the shipper.
This is frequently not understood as it is and this seems to be the case here as well.

In practical terms though this seems to have nothing to do with shipping at all and Apple should be looked to for a solution.
I have transferred and have had transferred Apple Warranty several times and it is no big deal,no hassle and they are generally very quick to help.

Soarer's refusal to accept this and persue this remedy especially given PJ's offer to help is a little bizarre!
For some reason Soarer just will not accept on faith that it can be quickly resolved to his satisfaction through Apple and I think this is what PJ may have been getting at.
I don't see any Libel or accusations at all,just pointless whining and unwillingness to take responsibility and get the thing repaired like anyone else would.

Things break and get repaired all the time. I doubt PJ would be in here at all responding to any of this if he was trying to Scam in any way.

Ed

[soarer 300]

3/7/05

No warranty papers, no vouches, no nothing except a crappy Ipod that doesn't work for more than 30 mins.

[soarer 300]

Would all of you who sided with PJ920 like some ketchup with your feet?

[AVService]

Originally posted by soarer 300
Would all of you who sided with PJ920 like some ketchup with your feet?

?????????

[soarer 300]

3/16 -- Still nothing.

[AVService]

Thanks Cory that clears things right up for me.

On a related note,I got a pre-owned ipod around the same time that you did.
I recently had a problem with it and I called Apple.
Guess what happened?
Within 5 minutes I had it registered to me instead of the original owner and a solution was forthcoming from Apple.

You asked for comments and then decided to reject them.
You wanted to pay less than retail and you did.
Now you expect the seller to hold your hand instead of getting it taken care of through normal channels?
Stop whining and try to contribute here,just a thought.

[MikeM]

Cory- Call Apple. Now. PJ920 isn't going to do anything for you anymore. Either eat the money and be quiet about it, or call Apple and get the warranty service.